@Cypress is published each week. If you would like to have items included, please contact Marc Posner in the Public Information Office at ext. 47006 or mposner@CypressCollege.edu.

Bob Simpson, Ed.D., President(714) 484-7308rsimpson@CypressCollege.edu

THIS WEEK Core Values:

Excellence

Integrity

Collegiality

Inclusiveness

Cypress College • 9200 Val ley View Street • Cypress , CA 90630 • (714) 484-7000 • http://CypressCollege.edu

President’s Holiday Reception HeldDr. Simpson hosted the annual

President’s Holiday Reception on Thursday, filling the Theater Lobby with laughter and joy. The event hosted cam-pus employees, retirees, and community leaders. Among those in attendance were

charter faculty member John Buchanan along with three former campus presidents: Don Bedard, Margie Lewis, and Mike Kasler.

One of the things that I most appreciate about Cypress College is the fact that no matter what the issues are, no matter what the contro-versies, we still come together as a community. As the semester winds down, and the holidays approach, I want each of you know how much I appreciate your contributions to our work.

This is a time of year when we all become reflective. Final exams are ending. Activity in the Student Center is diminishing. The hectic pace of the semester is easing. Thus, it is a time that allows us to reflect

on what we do to help students achieve their goals and to improve their lives.

It is an extraordinary business we are in — a business where every day, when we come to work, we may touch somebody’s life in a posi-tive way, and in a manner that will last for the rest of that person’s life.

I don’t know of any occupation that is more enjoyable, more important than the occupation we have.

This is true whether you’re a classified staff member, a manager of the College, a faculty member, a member of the District team, or a Trustee. You contribute to making our students’ lives better.

I wish all of you a happy holiday.— Bob Simpson

December 13, 2013, Newsletter from President Bob Simpson

Dr. Simpson Shares Holiday Wishes to the Campus Community“I want each of you know how much I

appreciate your contributions to our work” Dr. Simpson says.

14 • Saturday» Fall 2013 semester ends

24 • Tuesday» Campus closed for winter break

2 • Thursday» Campus re-opens following winter break

20 • Monday» Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday (campus closed)

24 • Friday» Spring Opening Day meeting, 8:30 a.m.

27 • Monday» First day of instruction for the spring 2014 semester

For additional upcoming events, visit the campus calendar.

THEY SAID IT“ ”“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

– John F. KennedySpring Opening Day Scheduled for

Friday, January 24, 2014The spring Opening Day all-employee meeting has been

scheduled for Friday, January 24, 2014. The program will begin at 8:30 a.m. Details for the morning’s activities are being developed and will be sent to employees in advance. Opening Day takes place the Friday prior to the start of classes in each primary term. Spring 2014 instruction begins the week of Monday, January 27.

Marquee Replacement Project Moves to Department of State Architecture for Approval Plans to replace the electronic marquee

at the main college entrance have been sub-mitted to the California Department of State Architecture for approval.

This will result in a two-sided marquee measuring approximately 17 feet wide by 6 feet tall. The quality of the sign, the place-

ment, and the software controlling it will all be substantially improved over the current marquee.

In addition, the marquee sign will be encased in a v-shaped monument facing north-bound and southbound traffic on Valley View Street.

The new location will be slightly south and further up the embankment along the Valley View roadway. Finally, landscaping around the marquee will be upgraded.

The work will be completed in advance of the College’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2016.

Fall Final EditionThis marks the final edition of the @Cypress newsletter for the fall 2014 semester. @Cypress will resume publication on Friday, January 31, 2014. Happy holidays!

For near l y a ha l f -mi l l i on s tudents , Cypress Co l lege has been a spr ingboard to the i r d reams. Cypress Co l lege : Mot i vat ing Minds .

Economics Professor Fola Odebunmi was part of a delegation of community col-lege and K-12 faculty leaders who recently participated in two legislative conferences in Washington, D.C. Odebunmi, was one of four Community College Association del-egates attending the events, which were sponsored by the Congressional Black and Hispanic Caucuses. It also represented the first time an recent memory that the CCA participated with their K-12 colleagues from the California Teachers Association, accord-ing to an article in the November-December, 2013 CCA Advocate.

Cypress College’s 9th Annual Kwanzaa event was held last week, with a packed audience on hand in the Gym II foyer. Kwanzaa is planned by the By Us, For Us Kwanzaa and Black History planning committee, Black Student Legacy Union, and The Legacy Program. “I would like to extend gratitude and appreciation to those who attended and partici-pated … with Ms. Chimbuko Tembo,” said Renee Ssensalo. Additional comittee members are: Dr. Bede Ssensalo, Dr. Arnette Edwards, Dr. Shirley Smith, Renay Laguana-Ferinac, LaQuita Jones, Daniel Lind, and Joseph Melodia.

BRIEFLYPhil Dykstra has been

appointed the Director of Institutional Research and Planning, following a hir-ing process and approval of the Board of Trustees on Tuesday, December 10. Dykstra replaces Dr. Santanu Bandyopadhyay, who also earned a promotion, and has served as the Executive Vice President since the start of the academic year. Dykstra has been with the College for more than a decade as a Research Analyst.

José Recinos, the College’s Director of Maintenance and Operations for the past 10 years, has accepted a position at Moreno Valley College. He will remain at Cypress College through the end of the year. The move is a promotion for Recinos and will dramatically reduce his commute. We wish him the best in his new job.

The hiring committee tasked with selecting Cypress College’s new Director of Disabled Student Programs and Services is nearing a deci-sion on the candidates they are evaluating and a selec-tion is anticipated before the end of the semester. The new director will assume the duties of Dr. Kim Bartlett, who passed earlier this year.

CHARGERS ‘Pull for Cypress’ Campaign Breaks Record for Contributions The Cypress College Foundation’s 2014 Pull for

Cypress Campaign has set a new record for contri-butions, raising more than $74,000. Of that total, employees contributed an impressive $54,000 with the college’s Title V Grant adding a $20,000 match to the campaign.

Sixty-three donors either gave for the first time or increased their donation compared to last year, while 206 employees contributed to the campaign, a total

slightly behind last year’s 214 employees.“What an awesome accomplishment,” said Raúl

Alvarez, Executive Director of the Foundation and Community Relations. “Thank you. I am grateful as well to those who have donated previously, but whose circumstances prevented their participation this year.”

Despite the completion of the formal phase of the Pull for Cypress campaign, the Foundation accepts contributions throughout the year.

Scheduled Maintenance Set by District IS Staff for December, JanuaryInformation Services will be performing scheduled

maintenance on the following dates: •   Friday, December 20 - Monday, December 23: 

myGateway will undergo an update and be unavailable

•   Sunday. December 29 - Monday, December 30: General server maintenance which will affect all systems, including myGateway,

Banner, and Blackboard•   Saturday, January 4 - Sunday, January 5: 

Oracle will be upgraded; myGateway and Banner will be unavailable

Faculty, please plan your grade submission accordingly. For more information or questions, please contact the District IS Help Desk.

CSEA, District Agree to Implement Summer 4/10 Schedule for 2014CSEA and the District have again agreed to implement a four-day, ten-hour workweek schedule (4/10 sched-

ule) for the 2014 summer session. The 4/10 schedule will begin the week of Monday, June 2, 2014.The ending date of the 4/10 schedule will be Friday, August 15, 2014, and the District will return to the

regular five-day, eight-hour workweek on Monday, August 18, 2014.

Innovation Fund Applications Now Being Accepted Through March 1The North Orange County Community College District is pleased to announce the launch of the “2013-

2014 Innovation Fund Program.”The NOCCCD Innovation Fund demonstrates the continued commitment of the Board of Trustees towards

excellence by supporting innovative ideas and initiatives leading toward student success and higher operational effi-ciencies. Proposals supported by this endeavor will complement the District’s vision and mission and Strategic Plan directions.

All proposals will be considered by the District-wide Innovation Fund Ad-Hoc Committee.The maximum funding allocation per proposal is $25,000 per fiscal year. Awards from the program may

supplement existing and/or other sources of funding, including augmentation of grant funds. The projects selected are to be completed in the subsequent academic year.

The submission deadline is March 1, 2014. The Innovation Fund application, along with more information, may be found in myGateway under the “District Forms” tab, or by navigating from www.nocccd.edu, This pro-gram is restricted to employees of the North Orange County Community College District.

For questions please contact: Ken Robinson, District Director, Equity and Diversity, at: krobinson@nocccd.edu.

Chancellor’s Staff Holiday Band

“ Making their debut

performance, it’s the

NOCCCD Chancellor’s

Staff Holiday Band,

featuring (l to r): Ken-

neth Robinson, District

Director, Equity and

Diversity; Greg Schulz,

School of Continuing

Education Provost;

and Bob Simpson, Cy-

press College President.

Recorded live at the

Anaheim Campus on

December 12, 2013.”

Dr. Bob SimpsonPresident

December 12, 2013

Information About Reading Proficiency Requirements

I believe that as we debate and discuss important matters, our conversations should befactually based. Recently, some factually inaccurate information has surfaced regardingthe Reading Proficiency graduation requirements at Cypress College. I want to assurethat all members of the community are aware of the facts, and — most importantly — Iwant students to understand how the College works toward issue resolution with theirinterest foremost in our minds. Cypress College is a student-focused institution, and thework we do here is because of and for them.

In the spirit of transparency, I also want to provide some background information on theissue. Last month, during her report to Members of the Board of Trustees of the NorthOrange County Community College District, Cypress College Student Trustee ClaudiaPeña stated that she was concerned about the Reading Proficiency graduationrequirement at Cypress College. Ms. Peña stated that she believed additional coursesoffered at the College should also meet this requirement. Similar concerns had previouslybeen expressed at the Cypress College Curriculum Committee by a group of faculty, andwere subsequently a topic discussed in the media, including articles in The OrangeCounty Register, the Fullerton Observer, and our student-published DivergenceMagazine. The information shared at the Board meeting and in these articles was notfactually accurate. I believe it is important to correct the record for the benefit of ourstudents, the community, the public, and historical accuracy.

The Reading Proficiency Requirement has been in place at Cypress College, substantiallyin its current form, since 1978. The faculty of the College established through thecurriculum review process that students should be able to read at a minimum level ofproficiency before they have earned an associate’s degree. There are a variety of ways inwhich students can demonstrate this requirement, including a satisfactory score on theEnglish placement test, a passing grade in a variety of English courses of the College, orby passing a rigorous Reading Proficiency test.

One of the concerns expressed to the Board and in the media is that there are more waysfor students to meet the requirement at Fullerton College than are available at CypressCollege. In point of fact, there are eight ways for students at Cypress College to

demonstrate proficiency in reading. There are only seven ways for students to do so atFullerton College.

Another concern expressed in these arenas was that Cypress College was in violation ofDistrict Board Policy. Our Policy states that courses meeting general educationrequirements at one of the District credit institutions will be given that sameconsideration at the other institution. We have followed this policy and will continue todo so. The Reading Proficiency Requirement is not a general education course; it is alocal degree requirement. Local degree requirements are established by the collegesacross the state and vary from institution to institution. There is no policy or regulatorybasis for arguing that local degree requirements must be uniform even within a District.

I am particularly dismayed by the assertion that I have not been available to comment onthis issue. To my knowledge neither the Observer nor Divergence sought to contact me ormy office for a statement. Since becoming President, I have consistently maintained anopen door policy for any member of the campus community or the public who wishes tospeak with me or raise a concern. Each week, I host “President’s Office Hours” where Iam available to anyone to discuss any issue; these hours are posted in the @CypressNewsletter each week. During the semester, I also hold “President’s Open Forum” eventsthat are open to all, and I am additionally available by appointment.

Although I am happy to contribute to the resolution of important matters of the Collegewhenever I can do so, the majority of issues at the College are resolved without the needfor my involvement. Students are officially represented by elected members ofAssociated Students who serve in an official capacity on a number of Collegecommittees, including the President’s Advisory Cabinet. Employees are represented in avariety of capacities through committee participation, bargaining units, and bodies suchas the Academic Senate. Despite the impression given in the published articles, ourAssociated Students have not taken an official position related to the Reading ProficiencyRequirement. Likewise, I have discussed the concerns with the Reading DepartmentChair, the Language Arts Division Dean, and the Executive Vice President; none hasreceived complaints on the issue from students.

In terms of how the campus is responding to concerns over the Reading Proficiencyrequirement, as recently as last week, members of the Reading Department and theEnglish Department met to review and explore the best way to proceed, including thepossible expansion of the number of courses that will meet the Reading ProficiencyRequirement for graduation. This work is being conducted in a collegial andcollaborative manner to ensure that students’ needs are met while maintaining theacademic integrity of graduation requirements. Changes to the proficiency requirement, ifwarranted, will be approved through the College’s curriculum review process,

incorporated in the 2014-2015 Cypress College Catalog, and implemented for the fall2014 semester. Since any such changes must first be published in the catalog, thistimeline means that they will be made available for students at the first possibleopportunity.

One of our four core values at Cypress College is “collegiality” and I believe deeply inthis principle of working together to discuss and resolve our differences. I expect that thisissue will be resolved — as most issues at the College are — within that context ofprofessional respect.

These are matters of great importance, matters about which honorable people candisagree. It is our desire to resolve these issues in accord with the regular processes of theCollege, being respectful of the right of faculty to determine curriculum and academicstandards in accord with their determination of what constitutes appropriate rigor andpedagogy, while keeping foremost in our thoughts and in our actions what we believe tobe in the best interest of our students.

Dr. Bob Simpson, PresidentCypress College

OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES

North Orange County Community College District

1830 W. Romneya Drive, Anaheim, California 92801-1819

INTRADISTRICT CORRESPONDENCE

To: ALL STAFF

From: Jeff Horsley Vice Chancellor, Human Resources

Date: December 9, 2013

Subject: 2014 Summer Session Four-Day Workweek

CSEA and the District have again agreed to implement a four-day, ten-hour workweek schedule (4/10schedule) for the 2014 summer session. The 4/10 schedule will begin the week of Monday, June 2, 2014.The ending date of the 4/10 schedule will be Friday, August 15, 2014, and the District will return to theregular five-day, eight-hour workweek on Monday, August 18, 2014.

It will be necessary to make some exceptions to the 4/10 schedule for certain classified employees.Management will notify those employees affected.

Classified and management employees who are employed for 40 hours per week may choose not to workten hours per day and elect a reduced hour(s) plan, using one of the following options:

Option #1: Work eight (8) hours per day by taking two (2) hours off each day using accruedcompensatory time or vacation time, respectively. If this option is selected, any accruedcompensatory time must be used and deducted before vacation time is used.

Option #2: Work nine (9) hours per day by taking one (1) hour off each day using accrued compensatorytime or vacation time, respectively. If this option is selected, any accrued compensatory timemust be used and deducted before vacation time is used.

Option #3: Work eight (8) hours per day by taking two (2) hours off each day as leave without pay. If thisoption is selected, the time off without pay will not be considered as “nonduty” days or hours(“mandatory time off”) and the employee’s duty calendar will not be altered to make upfor the unpaid hours.

Option #4: Work nine (9) hours per day by taking one (1) hour off each day as leave without pay. If thisoption is selected, the time off without pay will not be considered as “nonduty” days or hours(“mandatory time off”) and the employee’s duty calendar will not be altered to make upfor the unpaid hours.

If an employee elects to work a reduced hours plan by selecting one of the above options, the number ofhours off must be the same for each day of the week and the employee must remain with the optionselected for the entire summer session schedule.

2014 Summer Session Four-Day WorkweekPage 2

Per diem deductions for the use of vacation time and/or sick leave for classified and managementemployees on the 4/10 schedule will be made as follows:

No option selected (work 10 hours per day): Deduct ten (10) hours of leave per day in lieu ofhours worked

Option #2 or Option #4 selected (work 9 hours per day): Deduct nine (9) hours of leave per day in lieu ofhours worked

Option #1 or Option #3 selected (work 8 hours per day): Deduct eight (8) hours of leave per day in lieu ofhours worked

For employees on the 4/10 schedule, the July 4th holiday will be taken on Thursday, July 3, 2014.Classified employees on the 4/10 schedule will receive holiday pay for the July 4th holiday in accordancewith the provisions of Article 10.3.3 and Article 13.3.2 of the CSEA collective bargaining agreement. Foremployees who are not on the 4/10 schedule, the July 4th holiday will be taken on Friday, July 4, 2014.

JOH/sc

Academic Cap & Gown

Cypress CollegeFaculty 2014

Faculty Robe Information Sheet

Please PRINT all information.

Name: _____________________________ (Male/Female) _____

Currently Teaching at: Cypress College School Name

Cap Size: __________DEGREE

Bachelor ___ Master ___ Doctor ___

Dress or Suit size ___ Weight ___ Height ___ ft ____ in

Fill in below information if you need a hood

Major (Example: Music, Education): _______________________

From: _________________________ _______________ _____School Name City State

School Colors ______________________

Innovation Fund

Greatness. Ach ieved.Greatness. Ach ieved.

What is the

Innovation Fund?The NOCCCD Innovation Fund is designed to support

proposals that cultivate a climate of innovation and

creativity. Proposals supported by this endeavor will

complement the District’s Vision and Mission Statements and

Strategic Directions, and initiatives may range in focus from

primary classroom support, to student success or research, or

any function of the District. The Fund is designed to support

new ideas, methods or practices to promote excellence in all

aspects of the NOCCCD.

Who Should/Can Apply?All permanent employees of the NOCCCD who require

primary or supplemental funding to support an innovative

initiative or project are encouraged to apply for funding from

the NOCCCD Innovation Fund. Application submission

begins December 1, 2013, through March 1, 2014, for

projects commencing the following academic year.

Where can I get more

information about

the Innovation fund?Contact: Kenneth Robinson, District Director, Equity and

Diversity at krobinson@nocccd.edu or visit:

www.nocccd.edu, myGateway / District Forms

2013-14 NOCCCD

NO

CC

CD

IN

NO

VATIO

N F

UN

D